The pain-in-the-butt sensation of sciatica is well-known to runners, especially those whose non-running hours involve a lot of sitting. In recent years, steroid shots have become an increasingly common treatment for the condition. A research review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine[1] suggests, however, that such shots provide no meaningful long-term relief.

Australian researchers gathered the results from 23 trials, involving about 2,300 patients. The researchers found that, while steroid shots were a common treatment for patients complaining of sciatica pain, patients who received them fared no better in the long term than those who didn't receive them. In the short term, patients who get steriod shots reported slight improvements in pain and mobility, but those improvements weren't large enough to be considered medically significant.

As a result of their findings, the researchers wrote, "we would recommend that patients with acute sciatica receive a course of conservative care before any invasive treatment approach is considered."

For runners, sciatica is definitely a condition where prehab work beats rehab. Tight and weak butt and hamstring muscles, combined with a lot of sitting, are common causes among runners. If you have an acute episode, try anti-inflammatories and avoiding fast running until the pain subsides. If sciatica is a recurrent problem for you[2], there's an underlying issue you'd well to investigate and address.